Faulds Hangs Up TV Curling Microphone

Sportsnet curling play-by-play man Rob Faulds is the second high-profile Canadian curling television host to call it a day this year.

Faulds’ exit follows Vic Rauter’s well-documented departure from TSN last April. Faulds, who is also a veteran sports broadcast “everyman” decided to make a quieter departure on Thursday night (Aug. 13), following a Sportsnet tennis show.

Faulds was even more of an everyman than Rauter. In his lengthy career, Faulds delivered play-by-play for the Toronto Blue Jays, regional National Hockey League telecasts for the Ottawa Senators and Montreal Canadiens, National Lacrosse League games, tennis events, and multiple Olympic Games.

And curling. Lots and lots of World Curling Tour and, later, Grand Slam curling, dating back to the first-ever show in the fall of 1998, in CTV Sportsnet’s first year.

As described in a 2024 story highlighting Sportsnet curling coverage, Faulds was first teamed with analysts “Fast” Eddie Lukowich and Marilyn Bodogh.

After Sportsnet’s glitzy return to the Roaring Game in 2012 – as Slam series owner, not just broadcaster – Faulds teamed with CBC’s Mike Harris and Joanne McCusker.

“Now I’ll be able to make all my games in Oshawa now, not sure how that will sit with my teammates,” Faulds told me.

That’s right – Faulds is a hardcore curler, playing weeknight games at the Oshawa Curling Club just east of Toronto. He first got hooked watching curling on TV with his father when he was a kid, and started playing in Montreal at the Glenmore around 1986. 

He’s been at the OCC since 1999, if his memory serves correctly.

Fauldsy has a message for the curling fans he has spoken to for over thirty years.

“The time I spent covering curling is some of the most fun I’ve had in broadcasting,” he said. “The curlers were always open and honest, and the great people I worked with made every trip worthwhile. 

“I was fortunate to see much of this country, and the love for the game and what it meant to their community will always stay with me.”

I can attest to Fauldsy’s genuine nature. He seems to almost always be there for mutual friend Ryan Durham, serving as emcee at Durham’s annual Spinal Tap Charity Bonspiel in Thornhill, Ont. most years. 

“It was an honour and my privilege to work with Rob all these years at Sportsnet,” posted Mike Harris earlier today. “Wishing you a healthy and happy retirement my friend!”

On the day of Faulds’ retirement, The Curling Group announced a new five-year Canadian coverage deal had been struck with both Sportsnet and CBC. Crew talent announcements are due at a later date.

Happy retirement, Fauldsy… now get to work on that in-turn.